Sources of air emissions which require permits include point sources (major stationary commercial and industrial facilities), area sources (smaller stationary sources like dry cleaners and print shops), and devices (individual burners, furnaces, machines, etc.). The table below details the source/device threshold limits which trigger the requirement for obtaining an air permit from the Air Resources Division.

In addition to the specific sources/devices listed in the table, the Rules contain other conditions under which a source would be required to obtain a permit. Examples of these conditions include:

Sources choosing to limit their potential to emit by accepting enforceable permit conditions;

Sources at which documented and repeated violations occur of any of the applicable opacity or emission limits found in the Rules;

Sources at which documented and repeated violations of any NAAQS occur and the source is a significant contributor to the violation;

Sources subject to "New Source Review", a pollutant-specific program for new sources or modifications to sources which have emission levels above certain applicability thresholds;

Sources subject to the Rules governing reasonably available control technology (RACT) for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or nitrogen oxides (NOx);

Sources where a permit is required in order to achieve compliance with NAAQS;

Sources affected by or opting into the Acid Rain program under Title IV of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; and

Sources defined in the Rules as "major sources", as determined by the type and amount of pollutant emitted from the source and the geographical location of the source (required by Title V of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990).

Devices and Sources Which Require Permits for Air Emissions

Device/Source

Design Rating

Fuel

Fuel Burning Device

>= 10 million BTU/hr

Natural Gas, LP Gas, #2 fuel oil

Fuel Burning Device

>= 4 million BTU/hr

#4 fuel oil

Fuel Burning Device

>= 2 million BTU/hr

coal, wood, #6 fuel oil, used oil

Internal Combustion Engine
(One or more at a source; design rating threshold is combined total of all engines)

>= 1.5 million BTU/hr

liquid fuel oil

>= 10 million BTU/hr

Natural Gas or LP Gas

Potential to emit > 25 tons per year of any single regulated air pollutant

Incinerator

>= 1,000 lbs/hr

Type 0, 1, 2, 3 waste

Incinerator

>= 200 lbs/hr

Type 4, 5, 6, 7 waste

Stationary Source, Area Source, or Device

Total actual photochemically-reactive VOC emissions >= 10 tons per year